Isaac's Journal

July was a crazy busy month! We hosted three sets of out-of-town company, a weekly Bible study, and two large barbeque parties. Plus we went on a ten-day vacation through SD, MN, WI, IN, IL, and MI. 2500 miles, forty-plus hours in the car and you did GREAT! We borrowed a dual screen portable dvd player so you could watch movies while we drove. I also wrapped a bunch of snacks and little toys in newspaper so that you and Abby could open “presents” in the car – one for every hour of travel time.

Not only were you great in the car, you were a great sleeper wherever we went – you slept on the floor, couches, a hotel bed and your carseat. You adapted great and were cheerful nearly all of the time. I think you loved all of the new people and experiences – you thrive on adventure. We visited the Carlsons in Sioux Falls, where you got to play with little Ethan’s baby toys. In Minnesota you saw most of your great-aunts and uncles plus spent a fun day swimming with Grandpa Curt, Grandma Kim, Uncle Westley and Aunt Breanna. Next stop was St Joseph, Michigan where Uncle Mickey, Aunt Karlene, Emily and Alyssa took us to a beach on Lake Michigan. Finally we made it to Detroit where we had a family reunion, swam in the hotel pool, went to Greenfield Village and toured the Detroit Zoo.

Two days after we got back from our trip, the Texas Bittners came to visit us! You LOVED playing with your uncles – you went disc golfing with them, they tickled you, and we even got to climb rocks in the Black Hills and tour Jewel Cave and Mount Rushmore with them! We played a lot of games that were too hard for you, but you even “played along” with us then – writing your own list of “words” in Boggle and rolling the dice in Yahtzee.

Since our return from vacation, your little stuffed monkey has become your constant companion. You carry him around the house all day, carrying on conversations with him. (Monkey responds to your every query in a very annoying high-pitched voice!) Monkey helps you with your chores, rides on your bike and of course is cuddled to sleep every night. So funny to see!

You’ve also developed a funny habit of trying to participate in adult conversation. Daddy will be talking about something at the dinner table and you’ll interject, “Um, yeah, the ball rolled up the hill then it fell onto the bread and squished it!” I think you’re just saying something, anything, to be part of the conversation!

We have a blue couch with floral throw pillows and a green-and-blue plaid couch with blue throw pillows. Yesterday you walked over to the blue couch and said, “Mom, this couch looks blue to me.” Then you picked up the blue pillows off of the other couch. “And these pillows look blue to me. The blue pillows should go on the blue couch. That is how I think it should be.” And you proceeded to transfer all of the pillows to their “proper” locations.

Lately obedience has been more of a struggle for you. I’m thinking it’s because the month was so crazy AND I’m sure we were less consistent in disciplining you during the vacation and houseguests periods of time. I feel bad that we have to fight some of these battles again, but all we can do is keep trying! You tell me I’m mean when I spank you, which hurts a little, but I try to let you know that I don’t WANT to have to spank you but that I do it in obedience to Jesus. How I pray that your little heart will love to obey! I love you so much – I treasure each time you snuggle up to me, knowing full well that soon you may be “too big” for that.